Leading barrister to face charges over £600k VAT bill

Rohan Anthony Pershad QC, a leading barrister, will be charged with failing to
pay £600,000 in VAT, prosecutors said today.

Mr Pershad faces prosecution for one count of cheating the public revenue for allegedly failing to pay the tax between June 1999 and September 2011.

Keri Ashworth-Beaumont from the Crown Prosecution Service's fraud division said: "The evidence suggests that he charged and received VAT payments on services he provided whilst practising as a barrister, but which he knowingly failed to declare or pay to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

"After careful consideration of all the evidence, I am satisfied there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute this case."

Pershad will appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court next Thursday.

According to his CV on the Thirty Nine Essex Street chambers website, he was called to the bar in 1991 and made a QC last year.

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The head of chambers is Robert Jay QC, the leading counsel to the Leveson Inquiry. Justine Thornton,

Thirty Nine Essex Street is regarded as one of the leading sets of chambers in London, covering a wide range of civil and commercial law.

He has dealt with criminal negligence claims as well as personal injury cases, including defending a claim by a worker on a cruise ship that was attacked by Somali pirates and bringing cases against the NHS.

Mr Pershad said: "The CPS has announced today that it has issued a summons in relation to an allegation stemming from my personal tax affairs.

"The CPS has issued this summons while I am still providing HMRC and the CPS with further information and representations setting out why I am not guilty of any offence.

"I am extremely disappointed that the CPS has seen fit to issue a press release whilst discussions are on-going.

"For the avoidance of doubt, I deny any dishonest activity in relation to my tax affairs and if a decision is made to pursue this matter in court, I will defend myself vigorously."